The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-06-04
For THE UNIvERsALIsT.
THE CONSEQUENCES.
BY MARY c. BILLINGS.
CHAPTER ".

"Gonzales, though the son of wealthy
man, while receiving a generous supply
of spending money, had no settled income
Like others of his class, he possessed nc
economy, and at the end of each season
after settling his bills, found that he had
but little surplus left. His father had
planned for him to travel year before
returning home to assume the RESPONSE.
bility of business, and the young man
consented to Gennie's plan after some re-
mons rance.
"1t would be less than a year OF separa-
ton, and then Gonzales would return
and claim his wife. Meanwhile he had
fingered, 10th to leave his darling, and she
WE'LL they were foolish young lovers,
and she had not the heart to urge his de-
parture. Thus affairs took their course,
bringing their train of consequences, sad
and bitter, for them both.
"Gonzalee bad strong hold upon my
sympathy. Young as l was, l recognize
ed in him, one of natures noblemen,
notwithstanding the questionable posi-
ton he occupied. His idolatrous love
for my favorite cousin, his deep sorrow,
his woe begone looks went to my heart,
and did my best trying to comfort and
encourage him. And thus, sorrowful and
disheartened, he went away, leaving a
letter for Gennie containing burning
words of love, and promising to return to
her as soon as disturbances on the Island
were quelled, and then, when her strength
returned, (Which he prayed the good God
would give her again } they would go to
their beautiful home, herself the love-
lest flower of all that land. This was
entrusted to me, and afterward read by
Gennie to her boy champion.
"On shipboard, the poor fellow wrote to
me: Her picture lies on my heart. it is
all I have of my pearl, my beautiful
But she is mine! Before God we are
united; though Signora Carroll will not
me believe. Thou knowest she constant
ly asks for that piece OF paper-the GER
tificate-and have it not. o! heart Of
Jesusl that 1 should have it lost! Par-
posely did I take that journey twice to
find it. And the man who gave my
adored one to me, he was gone far off to
Europe. I have written thrice, but an
swer comes not though 1 wait still in
hope.
IF it comes not, when she is restored,
we will go to priest OF my own faith and
then celebrate our marriage, and her re-
covery in suitable manner. Thou, too,
shalt be there, and wear on thy bosom
the glittering gem thou didst so admire
one day. Then with all due service and
honor, she will be mine before the world;
and Signora the bad, can wrong no more
say" Q add here that the letter just
quoted was not read until Frank had con-
cluded his narrative, and we had adjourn
ed to his room.
Lighting another cigar, Frank said; II
am making long and perhaps tiresome
story. II you are bored we will postpone
the remainder until another time" "No,
nor I replied, II am intensely interested.
Let me hear the end OF this remarkable
story" swell, to go on, for months my
poor Gennie continued confined to her
chamber, sometimes better, and again
worse, but never wholly in her right
mind. Meanwhile, child was born, a
puny little creature who're life went out
Immediately after its birth; its mother
never realizing the fact of its advent, ly-
ing there as she did, apparently at the
point of death. From this time, she
slowly crept up again, and though the
shock which report of her husbands
death gave her, nearly Frustrated her
again, she at last rose from her bed a
pale, sorrowful woman; as calm and al
most as frigid as her stepmother, for
whom she felt such an aversion that she
would not meet her or mlngle with her
at table or elsewhere. Huldah prepared
her food and served her from that time
in her own apartment.
"About this time, went to the city
and Genevieve travelled abroad with her
cousin, remaining absent three years.
Since her return she has lived the life of
a recluse. With an ample income, she
spends nearly all of it upon objects of
charity. She has altered and improved
the rooms in the south wing youder, and
refurnishing it to her taste, lives there
with Huldah during part Of the year.
Every winter she spends in Boston where
she devotes herself to the poor. am
told that the Catholics there claim her as
one OF their faith, and call her st. JUS
titia.'
"She is indeed living asingularly devot.
Ell life, and is no more like the light. heart
ed cousin Of my boyish days, than an en-
tire stranger would have been. Once a
week, when here, visit her apartment at
evening, but no other member Of the fam
lily is admitted.
81 am her almoner and business man
ager, attending TO her commissions in the
city, purchasing books for her, and ma.
terials which she makes into comforts for